DISADVANTAGE/LEADERSHIP BAD

ISOLATIONISM SCENARIO

USA FOREIGN POLICY IS DRIFTING TOWARDS ISOLATIONISM AND SUPREMECISM

Professor Harald Muller, Director of the Peace Research Institute at Franfurt. William Walker is Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, The Independent (London), October 15, 1999, SECTION: COMMENT; Pg. 4 HEADLINE: THE US MUST STOP TREATING THE REST OF THE WORLD WITH CONTEMPT // ln-10-29-99-acs

This deplorable decision will be interpreted around the world as confirming that the US Congress no longer cares for arms control or the interests of other states, including America's closest allies. Although the Clinton administration has fought hard for this Treaty, American policy is increasingly being shaped by people with isolationist, or, even worse, a supremacist agenda. They want to expand military programmes, weaken international institutions, and run the world by flaunting power. If Republican antagonism towards Clinton has been behind the decision, that only heightens the irresponsibility of the Congressional vote.

NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE WILL LEAD TO ISOLATIONISM AND AN END TO USA LEADERSHIP

Financial Times (London), October 19, 1999, SECTION: LEADER; Pg. 14 HEADLINE: Standing up to isolationism // ln-10-29-99-acs

But the Democrats have a point, and America's allies are right to be troubled. The post-cold war world has inevitably undermined the case for US engagement globally. Siren voices at home are urging retrenchment. As with "Star Wars" in the 1980s, the attractions of a national missile defence system is further fostering disengagement.

RISE OF GLOBAL ANARCHY WILL TRIGGER DANGEROUS USA ISOLATION

Avigdor Haselkorn, author of The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons and Deterrence. April 5, 2001 The Ottawa Citizen, SECTION: NEWS, Pg. A15 HEADLINE: World order faces techno terror: The post-Cold War peace is giving way to global anarchy //VT2002acsln

The rise of global anarchy should not be viewed as just the onset of greater international disorder. The coming chaos signifies a paradigm shift whose common denominator is that the "good guys" -- the democratic, moderate, peace-seeking members of the international system -- may be on the verge of a prolonged and possibly permanent retreat in the face of extremist and aggressive forces. Such international lawlessness is sure to reignite calls for greater isolationism in U.S. foreign policy and to encourage the spread of a Fortress America mentality. Such a posture, however, is guaranteed to make matters even worse, faster.